Toe covering for use with surgical casts



March 1955 w. A. SMALLBERG, SR 2,703,405

TOE COVERING FOR USE WITH SURGICAL CASTS Filed April 9, 1954 INVENTORWILLBA A. SMALLBERG,SR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O TOE COVERING FOR USE WITH SURGICAL CASTSWilliam A. Smallberg, Sr., El Paso, Tex.

Application April 9, 1954, Serial No. 422,030

4 Claims. (Cl. 2-239) This invention consists in new and usefulimprovements in a toe covering or semi-sock for use in connection with asurgical cast when applied to a human foot and leg. More specifically,the invention consists in a toe covering comprising an open endedsemi-sock portion of knitted textile fabric, adapted to receive theforward portion of a human foot substantially from toes to instep andformed to accommodate and enclose the open end of a surgical cast whichnormally exposes the toes of a human foot, means being provided toadjustably secure the semi-sock over the toes and open end of the cast.

I am aware of previous efforts to develop a cast sock for use in thisgeneral manner but they have all fallen short of the aims of the presentinvention. One of the main objections to the devices heretoforecontemplated has been the difiiculty of application as well asdifficulty in maintaining the device in place after once applied.Another objection has been the lack of adaptability and adjustability tomeet varying requirements as to size and shape. Furthermore, theprevious designs within my knowledge have been cumbersome and awkward inconstruction and presented an undesirably conspicuous appearance whenworn.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to overcomethese disadvantages and to provide a toe covering or semi-sock which maybe very simply and easily manufactured and one which may be readilyapplied and removed for purposes of cleanliness and sanitation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustablemeans for securing the device in place under varying size and contourrequirements so that the device may be firmly retained over the exposedtoes and open end of a cast, yet at the same time afford a maximum ofcomfort to the wearer.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character which isneat in appearance and relatively inconspicuous, presenting an over-alleffect, substantially similar to a conventional sock.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel featuresherein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designatesimilar parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the toe covering applied to ahuman foot in a surgical cast, equipped with a walking iron,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the semi-sock body showing the retainingstrap broken away, and

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the semi-sock with the retaining strapremoved.

In the drawings, 4 generally represents a semi-sock body of conventionalknitted fabric which may be composed of wool, cotton, nylon or any othersuitable material. The general shape of the semi-sock is substantiallythe same as that of the forward portion of an ordinary sock, closed atits toe end and open at its opposite end, the longitudinal extent of thesock being substantially from the tip of the toe to and over the instepof a human oot.

In order to adapt the open end of the semi-sock 4 to readily accommodatethe instep of the human foot and the overlying open end of a surgicalcast applied thereto,

Patented Mar. 8, 1955 ice the under side of the sock adjacent the medialportion of its open end, is provided with a gusset 5 (Fig. 3) also ofknitted material, which may be formed when the sock is being knit so asto-originally form an integral structure, or separately formed andapplied to a V-shaped opening cut in the under side of the sock.

As shown in Figure 2, the top side of the semi-sock 4 is slitlongitudinally at its open end to provide a placket 6 which may be ofthe fly type illustrated, with snap fasteners 7 for securing theoverlapping edges. The invention also contemplates an alternativeplacket structure embodying the conventional zipper fastener. In anyevent, the top side of the semi-sock is provided with an openingequipped with a suitable separable fastener to facilitate theapplication of the sock over the instep end of a surgical cast.

The bounding edge of the open end of the semi-sock is provided withbinding tape 8, stitched to the fabric in the usual manner andterminating at the respective edges of the opening for the placket 6.This tape 8 is composed of a material having sutficient elasticity topermit the open end of the semi-sock to be readily stretched when thedevice is applied.

On opposite sides of the semi-sock, adjacent its open.

end, I secure snap fastener elements 9 adapted to coact withcomplementary snap fastener elements 10 secured to the free ends of anankle strap 11. The snap fastener elements 9 are preferably located atsubstantially diametrically opposed points on the sides of thesemi-sock, so as to afford a uniform retaining action at the open end ofthe sock. The strap 11 is formed of suitable elastic material and isprovided adjacent either one or both of its free ends with slidegripper, adjustable buckles 12 of known type by means of which thelength of the retaining strap may be adjusted to accommodate ankles andcasts of varying size. The buckles 12 may be integral with the snapfastener elements 10 as shown.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, my improved toe covering isshown applied to a conventional surgical cast C, equipped with a walkingiron. The semisock portion 4 has been slipped over the exposed toes of vthe wearer and after being adjusted over the instep and open end of thecast C, the placket 6 has been closed and fastened by the snap fasteners7. The elastic strap 11 has been adjusted to the proper length bymanipulation of the slide buckles 12 and looped around the ankle of thecast as at 13 so that its free ends cross over above the instep as at14. The free ends are then drawn downwardly over the upper portion ofthe semi-sock and the fastener elements 10 are secured to thecorresponding fastener elements 9, fixed on the sides of the semi-sock.

I thus provided an inexpensive and easily applied toe covering whichwhen in place, presents substantially the appearance of an ordinarysock, completely covering the toes and closing the open end of thesurgical cast to provide both warmth and cleanliness. By means of thenormal elasticity of the semi-sock itself and the adjustableretainingstrap, the device is adjustable to meet varying sizerequirements.

Of course, these devices may be made in several basic sizes, forchildren, ladies and men, but within these basic ranges, individualdevices are adjustable as required, by means of the features justreferred to.

The placket opening in the upper portion of the semisock and the gussetin the lower portion thereof, not only facilitate the application of thedevice to a patients foot, but permit it to conform substantially to thecross sectional profile of the foot and cast after the placket has beenclosed and fastened. Furthermore, this particular arrangement ofsecuring strap, encircling the ankle and crossing over to opposite sidesof the semi-sock, provides an easily applied and effective securingmeans which prevents the iemi-sock from shifting either forwardly oraround the oot.

From the foregoing it is believed my invention may be readily understoodby those skilled in the art without further description, it being bornein mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims. For example, the semi-sock may be made with a cushiontoe and sole which will help prevent the bruising of the toes and thespecific fastening means for the placket and for the ends of theretaining strap may be varied as desired.

I claim:

1. A toe covering for use with a surgical cast, comprising an open endedsemi-sock body of knitted textile fabric, adapted to receive the forwardportion of a human foot substantially from toes to instep, a placketextending longitudinally on the top side of said body, from the open endthereof, separable fastening means for said placket, a gusset on thebottom side of said body at its open end, to accommodate the castadjacent the instep of the wearer, a single ankle encircling securingstrap, and means detachably connecting the ends of said strap onopposite sides of said body adjacent its open end.

2. A toe covering for use with a surgical cast, comprising an open endedsemi-sock body of knitted textile fabric, adapted to receive the forwardportion of a human foot substantially from toes to instep, anoverlapping placket opening extending longitudinally on the top side ofsaid body from the open end thereof, snap fasteners for said placket, agusset on the bottom side of said body at its open end, to accommodatethe cast, adjacent the instep of the wearer, and a detachable ankleencircling strap, connectible on opposite sides of said body, adjacentits open end. 7

3. A toe covering as claimed in claim 2, wherein said ankle engagingstrap is of suflicient length to form a loop around the ankle with itsfree ends crossing over on opposite sides of said semi-sock body, andsnap fasteners for securing the free ends of said strap to said body.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the snap fastening means forsecuring said strap, are diametrically opposed on the sides of said bodyportion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,542,331 Brockway June 16, 1925 2,008,936 Tait July 23, 1935 2,193,056Burn Mar. 12, 1940 2,391,064 McCandless Dec. 18, 1945 2,596,211 ComfortMay 13, 1952

